Work bench with modular adjustable parts



May 9, 1961 J. H. TRAUTMANN WORK BENCH WITH MODULAR ADJUSTABLE PARTS Filed March 24. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 69 as I I8 0 f8 42 88 I08 9 Z6 90 4 30 Z21 /4 /7 Z0 47 25 39 r Z9 72 7o 7& X v

II A 3; F27? INVENTOR. N wxf v BY WWQMN ATTORNEYS May 9, 196] WORK BENCH WITH MODULAR ADJUSTABLE PARTS Filed March 24, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT TORNEYS May 9, 1961 J. H. TRAUTMANN 2,983,389

WORK BENCH WITH MODULAR ADJUSTABLE PARTS Filed March 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 ill 76 p 85 82 a 73 as 2 INVENTOR. M xx MW BY mwmxm M QM A TTORNEXS United States Patent() WORK BENCH WITH MODULAR ADJUSTABLE PARTS John H. Trautmann, Southbury, Conn., assignor to Richard E. Deutsch, doing business as Products For Industry, Stamford, Conn., a sole roprietorship Filed Mar. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 723,588

12 Claims. (Cl. 211-134) bench systems, and to combinations of the equipment with the basic structure of the bench frame and with structure that carries forward the modular features of the bench. v t

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved work bench unit with various longitudinally extending elements combined with the other bench structure for maximum flexibility in the positioning and adjustment of the different elements used in the work bench system.

Another object is to provide a construction in. which the same parts can be used selectively for supporting and positioning different elements on the work bench unit.

Features of the invention relate to an adjustable foot rest, shelves, light brackets, and other supporting elements. The frame of the bench is made of undercut channel sections, some of which slide in others in a telescoping relation; and all of the channel sections are adapted to receive clamping means which connect the bench parts together and provide for convenient adjustment of the clamping means lengthwise along the open sides of the channel sections.

Other objects, features, and advantage of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views; V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular workbench made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of one of the back leg assemblies of the rearward frame of the work bench of Figure 1; a

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary end view ofpart of the work bench shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, exploded view of bracket and its connections shown in the assembly views;

Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic end viewsshowing different ways in which the shelf can be connected with the work bench;

Figures 8 and 9 are diagrammatic top plan views of the structure shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view, partly broken away, showing the way in which a shelf of one bench unit is connected with a modular shelf of an adjoining unit;

Figure 11 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on the line -1-111 of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view through the pocket book and lunch box holder shown at the right hand end of the bench of Figure 1;

the shelf,

Patented May 9, 1961 Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of 'Figure 3; v

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1414 of Figure l; and

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 1515 of Figure 14. I

The work bench shown in Figure 1 includes a plurality of supports at longitudinally spaced locations along the bench. The supports include a rearward frame having spaced leg assemblies 17. Each leg assembly 17, as shown in Figure 2, consists of a vertical element 18, an upper longitudinal element 19 and a lower longitudinal element 20. The vertical element 18 and both of the longitudinal elements 19 and 20 are undercut sections. This expression, undercut channel, is used herein to designate a channel having its side walls extending inwardly for some distance along the open side of the channel so that the actual opening in the side of the channel is of less width than the distance between the' parallel sides of the channel.

The elements 19 and 20, which extend longitudinally in the assembled rearward frame of the Work Bench, are

rigidly connected to the open side of the vertical element 18, preferably by welding. An adjustable foot assembly 25 (Figure 1) extends into the lower end of the vertical v element 18 of any rear leg assemblies where the rearward frame is to be supported from the fio'or, as will be explained in connection with the horizontal bracing.

The work bench also includes front leg assemblies 27. Each front leg assembly includes a front leg consisting of a vertical element 28, and fore-and-aft horizontal elements including an upper horizontal element 29 and a lower horizontal element 30. These fore-and-aft horizontal elements 29 and 30 are preferably identical. There is an upper bracket 32 permanently secured to the upper end of the vertical element 28 and to the forward end of the horizontal element 29. This bracket is preferably connected to those elements by welding, and the bracket is made with a gusset section for imparting rigidity to the front leg assemblyv in a vertical plane. The front leg assemblies 27 are connected at their upper ends by a stringer 33 which fits into recesses in the brackets 3'2 so-that the top of the stringer 33 is tflush with the tops of the horizontal elements 29.

The lowerend of the vertical element 28 is permanently and rigidly connected to the horizontal element 30 by a bracket 35 which is also made with a gusset section for imparting rigidity, and the connections to this lower bracket 35 also preferably made by welding. A foot assembly 25 extends into the lower end of the vertical element 28. a The vertical element 28 and the fore-and-aft horizontal elements29 and 30 are undercut channel sections. In order to provide a degree of 'adjustability for the length of the horizontal-elements'29 and 30, each of these elements is made in two parts. Both parts are undercut channel sections but there is an inner part 36 (Figure 4) of similar cross section but slightly smaller than an outer part 37 so that the inner part is slidab le lengthwise in the outer part to change the length of the horizontal element 2 9. The lower horizontal element 30 is of similar construction.

The front leg assemblies are connected to the rearward frame by clamping means 38. These clamping means include an angular plate 39 having a vertical panel 41 which extends across the open side of any of the channel sections of the rearward frame. InFigures 3 and 4, the angular plate 39 extends across the open side of the longitudinal element 19 of the back leg assembly 17. The

The bracket 32 has flanges 42 extending along the bottom surface of the front stringer '33, and bolts extend through these flanges and into the front stringer for securing the stringer to the brackets 32 in the same manner as the other clamped connections of the bench.

The leg assemblies 17 of the rearward frame of the work bench are connected together by stringers 44. These stringers are undercut channel sections of slightly smaller size than the longitudinal elements 19 and 20 so that the stringers 44 fit into the longitudinal elements 19 and 20 and are slidable therein for making certain adjustments. For example, if the front leg assembly 27 is at the left-hand end of a bench, as viewed in Figure 1, then the left-hand end of the plate 39 is preferably brought even with the left-hand end of the longitudinal element 19 of the rearward frame. Such a relation of the parts is shown at the left-hand end of the work bench shown in Figure 1.

If a front leg assembly is to be used at an intermediate location where two modular sections of the work bench are to be connected together, then tthe angular plate 39 is located in a centered position with respect to the back leg assembly 17, as shown in Figure 4 and as shown at the intermediate supporting station of the work bench illustrated in Figure 1. Since the stringers 44 of the rearward frame are channels, it will be apparent that the angular plate 39 of the clamping means 38 can be shifted lengthwise of the rearward frame and used to clamp a front leg assembly at any desired location along the rearward frame.

The length of one of the stringers 44 determines the length of a unit of the work bench. For example, if the stringers 44 are six feet long, then the work bench will have a six-foot unit, and with units of this length it is preferable to brace the back frame with a back leg assembly 17 located at a mid point along the stringers 44, as shown in Figure 1. At these locations where the stringers 44 are continuous through the longitudinal elements 20 of a back leg assembly, it is not necessary to have any foot under the back leg assembly. Stringers of other lengths can be used, such as four-foot stringers, and by so combining stringers of different length, work benches of any desired total length can be obtained.

Within the stringer 44 and the longitudinal element 1? there is a clamping plate 45. This clamping plate 45 is substantially wider than the channel opening of the longitudinal 19, and it has threaded openings 46 in it for receiving bolts 47. There are preferably two such bolts, as shown in Figure 4, located toward opposite ends of the clamping plate 45.

The bolts 47 extend through openings 48 in the vertical panel 41 and they clamp the edges of the undercut channels of the stringer 44 and longitudinal element 19 between the panel 41 and the clamping plate 45. This provides a connection which can be adjusted lengthwise of the longitudinal element 19 when the bolts are loosened. It also provides a connection which holds the stringer 44 in its adjusted position lengthwise of the longitudinal element 19 at the same time that it connects the front and back leg assemblies together.

The horizontal panel 43 of the angular plate 39 is secured to the horizontal element 2 by a clamping plate 59 located within the horizontal element 29 and clamped against the inside of the channel edges by bolt 51 extending through the horizontal panel 43 and threading into the clamping plate 50.

The horizontal panel 43 tapers to a reduced width toward its forward end, from a substantial width along the full extent of the vertical panel 41, to serve as a gusset to impart rigidity in a horizontal plane to the connection between the front leg assembly and the rearward frame. The clamping plate 50 is preferably identical with the clamping plate 45, and it is of substantial length so as to distribute the clamping load along an extended length of the undercut channel in which this, clamping plate 50 4. is located, and this length of plate with the extended distribution of pressure is advantageous in the end portion of the horizontal element 39 because the element includes the thickness of only one undercut channel at this location.

There are clamping means for holding the parts 36 and 37 of the front leg assembly in adjusted position with respect to one another. This clamping means includes an outer clamping plate 54, inner clamping pieces 55 and bolts '56 which extend through the outer clamping plate 54 and which thread into the inner clamping pieces 55.

These inner clam-ping pieces 55 are of-parallelogram shape. They are narrow enough to pass through the open side of the channel sections of which the parts 36 and 37 are made. After being inserted into the channel secticns, the inner clamp-ing pieces 55 turn as the bolts 56 are rotated, and this turning movement causes the inner clamping pieces 55 to rotate until the end faces of the parallelogram come in contact with the inside surfaces of the Walls of the channel sections. Since the inner clamping pieces 55 can rotate no further, further turning of the bolts 56 draws the clamping pieces 55 down against the edges of the channel sections and clamps these edges together between the clamping plate 54 and the inner clamping pieces 55.

These parallelogram-shaped clamping pieces 55 have the important advantage that they can be inserted into the undecut channels of the frame at any location and it is not necessary to slide them in from an open end of a channel section, or to insert them edgewise and then turn them after they are within the channel sections. This greatly facilitates the assembly of the work bench and saves substantial time.

Referring again to Figure l, the work bench unit has a bench top 58 constructed of one or more wooden panels which rest on the fore-and-aft horizontal elements 29,, and on the horizontal elements of the frame which are at the same level, including the front stringer 33.

At the back of the bench top 58 there is a back panel 60 made of sheet metal and having a front portion 62 extending upwardly from the bench top. There is an extension 64 projecting upwardly from the vertical element 18 of each of the rearward leg assemblies. The front portion 62 of the back panel is located in front of these extensions 64 and secured to them by bolts 66; and the back panel is of the same modular length as the stringers 44 and bench top 58.

At the lower end of the front portion 62 of the back panel there is a forwardly extending flange 68 overlying the rearward portion of the bench top 58. The back panel can be adjusted to bring this flange 68 down firmly on the top surface of the benchtop and for installations where the bench top is not subject to much displacement force, the friction is enough to hold the bench top in place. For benches subject to more severe usage, positive connections between the bench frame and the bench top are used.

At the upper end of its front portion 62, the back panel 60 extends rearwardly for a distance equal to at least the fore-and-aft thickness of the extensions 64. There are openings 6'3 in the top of the back panel directly over the vertical elements 18. for passage of the extensions 64 through the rearwardly extending portion of the back panel. The extensions 64 are undercut channel sections that extend into the vertical elements 18 of the rearward leg assemblies, and that slide in these vertical elements with a telescoping movement. The parts are clamped in any adjusted position by clamping means which will be described in connection with some of the other figures.

The back panel 60 has another portion 69 extending downwardly behind the extensions 64.

At the bottom of the work bench frame there is a foot rest 70 comprising a longitudinally extending, undercut channel section which is of the same modular length as the work bench unit. The foot rest is. attached to the lower fore-and-aft horizontal elements 30 by brackets 72, best shown in Fig. 11.

' The center portion of each bracket 72 extends under the bottom, open side of the fore-and-aft horizontal element 37, and there is a bolt 74 extending through the center of the bracket 72 and through the open side of the horizontal element 37 and to a clamping piece 76 into which the bolt 74 threads.

The bracket 72 has flanges on both sides of the horizontal element 37, and these flanges 78 extend along the bottom face of the foot rest 70. Bolts 82 extend through openings 83 in the flanges 78, through the open bottom of the foot rest 70 and into a clamping piece 84 within the foot rest 70. When the foot rest is to be adjusted toward or from the back of the work bench, the bolt 74 is loosened, and the bracket 72 moved along the foreand-aft horizontal element 30 to the desired position. When the work bench frame is to be adjusted to add another section, and the front leg assembly 27 (Fig. 1) is to be shifted toward the left, the bolts of the bracket 72, which extend into the foot rest 70 are loosened so that the bracket can move toward the left along the foot rest. Actually, the front leg assembly .will move far enough so that the foot rest extends only half Way across the fore-and-aft horizontal element 30; and one side of the bracket 72 will thus connect with the foot rest of the next modular section of the work bench.

The work bench unit shown in Fig. 1 has a shelf 88 located at the level below the bench top 58 and some distance above the lower longitudinal stringer 44. This shelf 88 has side walls 90 and end walls 92. The shelf can be attached to the work bench frame with the sides 90 extending downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 or it can be turned the other way so that the sides 90 extend upwardly depending upon whether it is desirable to have sides on the particular shelf at that location of the work bench. p

The shelf 88 is preferably made of sheet metal, of fairly heavy gauge and is of one piece construction except for the end walls 92 which have side flanges by which the end walls are attached to theshelf 88 with bolts or other suitable fastening means. The shelf. 88, without the end walls 92, is of the same modular length as the work bench unit, so that when another unit is connected to extend the work bench system, the shelf 88 can be extended by providing a similar shelf. at the same location on the next bench unit. p

The shelf 88 is attached to the rearward frame of the bench unit by a bracket 96 having a flange 97 and by bolts 98 which extend through washers 99 and 99a and then throughthe flange 97 and into the vertical element 18 of the rearward frame. The. bracket 96 is shown in detail in Fig. 5. The flange 97 has openings 100 through which the bolts 98 extend. These bolts 98 thread into a clamping plate 102 located inside of the vertically extending element of the rearward frame. The bracket 96 has a top flange 104 with openings 106 for the passage of bolts 108 by which the shelf is attached to the top of the bracket. The bolts 188 screw intonuts 110. The bracket 96 is preferably of one piece construction and stamped from fairly heavy sheet metal with a gusset portion at right angles to the flanges 97 and 104. I

Fig. 6 shows the way in which the shelf 88 is connected to the bracket 96 when the shelf is located along an intermediate portion of the vertically extending elements '18 of the rearward frame. Since one of the side walls '90 of the shelf extends downwardly between the bracket flange 97 and the front face of the vertical element '18, it is necessary to use a shim 112 between the lower part of the flange 97 and the front face of the vertical element 18. This shim 112 is of the same thickness as the side wall 98. An opening'is provided in the side wall 90 for the upper bolt 98 Figure 7 shows the way in which the shelf 88 can beattached to the rearward frame if it is to be used at the top of the verticalelements 18 and on a work bench unit which has no back panel. In the construction shown in Fig.7 the shelf 88 extends across the top of each of the vertical elements 18. With this construction the flange '97 of bracket 96 is clamped in direct contact with the face of the vertical element 18, and no shim is necessary. Since the shim 112 may be needed subsequently with a change in thearrangement of the shelf 88, it is located in front of the flange 98 in the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Figures 8 and 9 are top plan views of the shelf 88 when connected to the rearward frame element 18 in accord ance with the constructions shown in Figures 6 and 7, respectively. A row of openings 116 are provided in the shelf 88 at locations which make possible the construction of either Fig. 6 or 7 without requiring the cutting of additional openings. These openings in the row 116 are elongated to allow some fore-and-aft tolerance in the location of the shelf 88. The openings in the row 116 are for use when the vertical elements 18 are located as in Fig. 1. When another unit is attached to extend the work bench system, and the vertical element 18 of the rearward frame is movedto the end of the bench unit, then the bracket 96 extends half way under the end of the shelf 88 while the other half of the bracket will be under the corresponding shelf of the next work bench unit.

In this situation the bolts 108 must extend through openings which are'located one-half Way under each of the adjoining shelf sections. A row of notches 120, consisting of half openings, is provided at the end of the shelf 88.

Figure 10 shows the way in which two shelf sections 88 and 88' attach to the bracket 96 as just described. In order to secure the shelves 88 and 88' against being pulled away from one another, tie plates 122 are attached to the shelves 88 and 88' by bolts 124 extending through another row of openings 126 in the shelf 88 and 126' in the shelf 88'. i j

From the description thus far it will be apparent that the shelf 88 can be adjusted to any desiredwh ei'ght be tween the longitudinal element 19 (Figure 3) and the lower part of the back frame above the lower longitudinal element 20. The shelf 88 can also be turned over so that its side walls extend upwardly for mounting on the frame of the bench unit in the manner opposite to that illustrated in Figures 6-10. It will be evident that if the shelf were turned upwardly in Figure 6, the side wall would no longer be positioned between flange 97 and the front face of the vertical element 18. Thus the'shim 112 would not be necessary. This would bring the bracket 97 closer to the vertical element 18, and for this reason the elongation of the openings through the shelf 88 is de sirable. Referring again to Figs. 1 and 3, another shelf 128 is located above the bench top 57. This shelf 128 is located with the shelf 88, but is shown attached to the ext en. sions 64 with the sides 90 of the shelf extending upward- 1y. The end walls 92 and brackets 96 for theshelf 128 are the same as for the shelf 88 and are indicated by the same reference characters. The shelf 128 is shown in its lowermost position in Figure 3. If the work bench unit were not equipped with a back panel 60, the shelf 128 could be adjusted to a lower level along the rearward frame extensions 64.

Additional shelves 128 can be located at successively higher levels alongthe vertical extensions 64, if desired; but in the construction illustrated, the bench unit is equipped with rails 134 for guiding a tote box or other carrier which travels longitudinally along the work bench system. These rails 134 are preferably undercut channel sections similar to the horizontal stringers of the frame; and they are supported by forwardly extending, supports 136 which are also undercut channel sections. The rails 134 are connected to the supports 136 by brackets 72 similar to the brackets 72 for the foot rest 70.

When the rearward frame is adjusted for connection to a new bench unit when extending the bench, the bolts 82 are loosened to permit relative movement of the bracket 72 and rails 13'4 lengthwise of the rails.

If the rails 134 are to be moved forward or rearward or the tread of the rails is to be changed, then the bolt 74 at the bottom of eachbracket 72 is loosened to permit movement of the brackets 72 lengthwise along the supports 136;

The supports 136 are connected with the vertical extensions 64 by a bracket 96 similar to the brackets used for the shelves 88 and 128, and this bracket 96 for the supports 136 is clamped to the vertical extensions 64 in the same way as already described for the shelf brackets. The supports 136 are attached to the top flange of the bracket 96 by bolts 140 extending through the bracket flange and through the open bottom of the supports 96 and into clamping pieces within the supports 13? having threads for receiving the bolts 14%.

At the upper end of the vertical. extensions 64 there is still another bracket 96 connecting to larnp supports 144 extending forwardly as far as desired for holding the particular illuminating devises which are intended to be used with the work bench unit. In the construction illustrated, there is a longitudinal stringer 146 attached to the lamp supports 144 by a fiat plate 148. This plate 143 is similar to the clamping means 38 of Fig. 4 except that the portion corresponding to the flange 41 in Fig. 4 is in line with the panel 43.

Since the lamp supports 144 (Fig. 3) and the stringer 146 are all under cut channel sections located'at the same level, they are conveniently secured together by bolts 51, extending upwardly into channel sections and threading into clamping pieces or plates within the channel sections. Brackets 150, best shown in Fig. l, are attached to the stringer 146. It will be understood that the lamp supports 144 can be used for a fluorescent light assembly 152 or any desired type of lighting and that the brackets may be correspondingly modified.

Figures 14 and 15 are detailed views showing the way in which one of the brackets 150 is attached to the stringer 146 by a bolt 51 passing through the top of the bracket 150 and threading into a clamping piece 84 within the stringer 146.

Referring again to Fig. l, the work bench unit is provided with a holder 154 in which a worker can place his or her personal belongings, such as pocketbook or lunch box which would clutter up the top of the bench and possibly be damaged if stored on top of the work surface of the bench. This holder 154 is located in a protected position near one end of the work bench unit and it is attached to the work bench unit in such a way that it will be moved automatically whenever the front leg assembly 27 is shifted to accommodate a new section on the work bench system. Figure 12, shows holder 154 spot-welded to offset brackets 156 extending upwardly to the upper fore-and-aft horizontal element 29. A flange 158 at the upper end of the bracket 156 contacts with the bottom face of the fore-and-aft horizontal element 29 and is clamped to it by a bolt 51 extending into the element and threading into a clamping piece 84.

By loosening the bolt 51, the bracket 156 and the holder 154 can be adjusted to any desired position along the fore and-aft horizontal element 29. Because of the offset in the bracket 156, the holder 154 is located behind afront leg 28. It can be adjusted as close to the front leg 28 as. the workmen may desire since the leg affords protection to the property on the holder 154; but there should be enough space to make it convenient to insert pocketbooks, lunch boxes or other items into the holder 154.

The preferred construction of the invention has been illustrated and described but changes and modifications can be made and some features can be used in different combinations without departing from the invention as defined in the claims;

What is claimed is:

1. In a work bench comprising a rearwardframe including vertical elements and upper and lower horizontal elements connected to the vertical elements, a forward frame including a plurality of vertical legs, and upper and lower fore-and-aft horizontal elements connecting the forward and rearward frames, and longitudinally-extending horizontal elements connecting the fore-and-aft horizontal elements, at least the lower of the fore-and-aft elements being under-cut channels with their open sides facing downward, one of the longitudinally-extending horizontal elements comprising a bar extending between the lower fore-and-aft elements in position to serve also as a foot rest for a person using the work bench, a bracket for securing the bar to said fore-and-aft under-cut channels and having clamping means which extend into the under-cut of the fore-and-aft channels and which are adjustable along the length of the channels to move the bar forward and aft, the improvement which comprises a bench top supported by both the forward and rearward frame at a level substantially above the bar, and supporting means for a shelf intermediate the bench top and the level of the bar, said supporting means including cantilever elements extending from the rearward frame forwardly at a level that locates both the cantilever elements and the shelf above the path of the bar as it is adjusted forward and aft on the channel elements.

2. The work bench described in claim 1 and in which the vertical elements of the rearward frame are undercut channels with their open sides facing forward and the means for connecting the shelf to the rearward frame includes brackets attached to the shelf and each having clamping means that extend into and engage behind the undercut inner faces of the vertical channels of the rearward frame, each of the brackets comprising a sheet metal gusset with top and rearward flanges at right angles to the gusset and contacting with the shelf and the rearward frame, respectively.

3. The work bench described in claim 1 and in which the work bench is of modular and extensible construction and the rearward frame includes a plurality of back leg assemblies including undercut channels which form the vertical elements of the rearward frame and which have their open sides facing forwardly, and the upper and lower horizontal elements of the rearward frame are also undercut channels permanently secured to the vertical channels, and the rearward frame also includes horizontal stringers connecting the back leg assemblies together, the horizontal stringers telescoping into the upper and lower horizontal elements of the back leg assemblies and being secured thereto, both the upper and lower fore-and-aft horizontal elements also being undercut channels and having their open sides facing downwardly, each of the fore-and-aft elements being made of two channel sections, one of which slides within the other with a telescoping action to adjust the length of the fore-and-aft elements, and the shelf has side walls and a bottom and detachable end walls which are removable when connecting a new modular section of shelf, the shelf having rows of bolt holes for connecting with a bracket, there being one row of recesses in the end face of the shelf providing half holes for cooperation with similar recesses of a modular shelf section to which the bracket is to be bolted when the shelf sections are connected together.

4. In a work bench comprising a rearward frame including vertical elements, a forward frame having a plurality of vertical legs connectedvby horizontal stringer elements, and fore-and-aft horizontal elements connecting the forward frame and the rearward frame, and a bench top supported by the frame elements, the improvement which comprises upward extensions of the vertical elements of the rearward frame above the bench top, a. shelf and cantilever brackets to which the shelf is connected, clamping meansconnecting. the bracketswith the.

upward extensions and supporting the shelf and cantilever brackets with clearance above the bench top, and means for adjusting the shelf vertically to change the clearance of the shelf and brackets above the bench top to accommodate the bench to work of different size, and in which the vertical elements or" the rearward frame are undercut channels with their open sides facing forwardly, and the clamping means for connecting the shelf brackets with the vertical elements are located in front of different vertical elements which are spaced longitudinally along the work bench and the clamping means extend through each bracket and into the adjacent undercut channel and include an element that engages behind the inner faces of the undercut channel, the shelf having holes therein in position to register with holes in the brackets when the shelf is in contact with the front of upward extensions of the vertical elements of the rearward frame, and also when the shelf is covering the tops of the upward extensions of the vetrical elements.

5. The work bench described in claim 4 and in which the shelf bracket comprises a sheet metal gusset with top and rearward flanges at right angles to the gusset and in contact with the shelf and rearward frame, respectively, the shelf being bolted to the top flange of the bracket and having front and rear walls extending lengthwise of 1 the shelf and of one-piece construction with the bottom of the shelf, and the shelf also having end walls which I are detachable when the shelf is to be connected with amodular shelf extension, the bottom of the shelf having recesses in its end edge forming half holes for cooperation with corresponding recesses in the modular shelf extension when the bracket is shifted into position to support both the shelf and the modular shelf extension.

6. In a work bench comprising a rearward frame having a number of longitudinally-spaced backleg assemblies connected together by horizontal stringers, a forward frame having longitudinally-spaced vertical legs connected together by horizontal stringers and fore-and-aft horizontal elements extending between the rearward and forward frames, said fore-and-aft elements being under-cut channel sections, brackets connecting the opposite ends of the fore-andaaft elements with said frames including means extending into the open sides of the channels, and a bench top supported by horizontal portions of the frame, the improvement which comprises an auxiliary supporting surface of the work bench covered by the bench top and comprising a holder wider than the fore-and-aft elements and of greater length than width and having a supporting bracket extending into one of the fore-*and-aft horizontal under-cut channels, the supporting bracket being movable lengthwise along the channel for adjusting the position of the holder with respect to the front of the bench top, and the supporting bracket be ing substantially shorter than the holder to increase the range of the holder adjustment without interfering with said means extending into the open sides of the channels.

7. The work bench described in claim 6 and in which each of the fore and-aft horizontal elements is made up of telescoping sections for adjusting the spacing between the forward and rearward frame to increase the width of the work bench, clamping means for holding the telescoping sections in any adjusted position, all ofv the telescoping sections being under-curt channels with their openings facing in the same direction, the telescoping sections being of somewhat difierent cross section whereby one section fits within the other, and the clamping means for the holder being of a size to extend into either the larger or smaller of the telescoping sections.

8. The work bench described in claim 6 and in which the rearward frame includes vertical elements consisting of undercut channels facing forwardly and upper and lower horizontal elements attached to the vertical elements and also consisting of undercut channels, the back leg assemblies being connected together by horizontal stringers that telescope into the horizontal undercut channels, each of the fore-and-afit horizontal elements including two undercut channel sections, one of which is of slightly smaller cross section than the other and slidab-le in the other with a telescoping movement for changing the length of the fore-and-aft horizontal elements, means for clamping the telescoping sections in any adjusted position, the holder being substantially wider than the fore-and-aft element to which it is connected and its connection to said fore and-aft element being offset so as to locate a portion of the holder behind one of the front legs of the forward frame.

9. In a work bench comprising a rearward frame having longitudinally-spaced hollow vertical elements open at their upper ends, a forward frame having longitudinallyspaced vertical legs, stringers connecting the vertical legs, fore-and-aft horizontal elements connecting the rearward and forward frames, and a bench top supported by the frames, the improvement which comprises upward extensions of the hollow vertical elements of the rearward frame, said extensions telescoping into the upper ends of said hollow vertical elements, means securing the extensions to the vertical elements with the extensions projecting upwardly therefrom for a substantial and selected distance above the level of the bench top, brackets extending forwardly from the upper ends of said extensions, and lamp supports at the front ends of the brackets.

10. The work bench described in claim 9 and in which there is a horizontal and longitudinally extending channel which is connected with the front ends of said brackets and the lamp supports are carried by the horizontal and longitudinally-extending channel and are adjustable lengthwise thereon to change their positions over areas of the bench top.

11. In a modular and extensible work bench including a rearward frame having vertically-extending elements, a forward frame having vertical legs connected together by horizontal stringers, fore-and-aft horizontal elements extending between the rearward and forward frames, and a bench top supported by the frames, the improvement which comprises parallel rails extending lengthwise of the work bench and comprising a guideway for a tote box, extensions projecting upwardly above the level of the bench top and from the longitudinally-spaced rearward vertical elements of the rearward frame, and bracket means connecting the rails with said extensions, the bracket means extending forwardly under both rails and leaving open space between the rails and being cantilever supports for the trails whereby the area of the bench top below the rails is unobstructed, said bracket means being vertically adjustable to change the clearance of the rails above said area of the bench top.

12. The work bench described in claim 11 and in which the bracket means include forwardly extending supports for the rails and adjustable clamping means connecting the rails to the forwardly extending supports, the clamping means being adjustable to change the spacing of the rails from one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,889 Hyde Nov. 19, 1912 1,898,384 Noros Feb. 21, 1933 1,928,151 Goldman Sept. 26, 1933 1,997,742 Predovich Apr. 16, 1935 2,305,244 Erickson Dec. 15, 1942 2,345,650 Attwood Apr. 4, 1944 2,441,721 Schroeder May 18, 1948 2,744,714 Parke May 8, 1956 2,851,167 Rosenberg Sept. 9, 1958 

